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Neil Thomas, PhD

View this CV online neilmthomas.com/cv

Contact

Foreign Language Skills

Basic Italian

Language Skills

R
Python
Matlab
LaTeX
Markdown
C/C++


Disclaimer

Last updated on 2021-05-29.

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Neil M. Thomas, PhD

My research goals are firstly to discern why older adults exhibit behaviour indicative of a reduced ability to accommodate and/or adapt to their surroundings (e.g. in the context of falls risk); and secondly, to generate evidence-based guidance on appropriate use and design of older adult spaces to optimise safety and comfort. I employ a human-centred and data-driven approach that leverages state-of-the-art in psychology; human perception; eye tracking; and biomechanical modelling.

Education

PhD, Visuomotor Neuroscience

University of Lancaster

Lancaster, UK

2017 - 2014

  • Thesis: The effects of eye movements on postural control.
  • Supervisors: Drs. Theodoros M. Bampouras & Susan Dewhurst, Prof. Tim Donovan.
  • Disseminated results in 3 scientific papers (first-author), see “Publications”, several conferences, see “Conference Proceedings”, and the local news.
  • Won Research Project of the Year award at host institution.

BSc, Sports and Exercise Science (First-Class Hons)

University of Cumbria

Lancaster, UK

2014 - 2011

  • Published dissertation in scientific paper (first-author).
  • Completed and published outcome of NHS Service Evaluation, received runner-up poster prize at NHS Research and Innovation Showcase.



Professional & Research Experience

Product Specialist & Research Consultant

Pupil Labs GmbH

Berlin, DE

Present - 2020

  • Software development: Artificial pupil detector, IMU fusion algorithm, Network API tutorials (e.g. network/device synchronisation), customer support (e.g. code snippets).
  • Writing: Online documentation and tutorials, research digest blog.
  • Product training, tailored research support, sales and product demonstrations.
  • Regularly use Python and Git

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

2020 - 2017

  • Project: Looking in the right places to prevent stair falls in older adults, supervised by Prof. Mark A. Hollands.
  • Collected and analysed movement and perception of older adults negotiating stairs to study the links between visual sampling, fear of falling, and biomechanical indicators of falls risk.
  • Completed battery of cognitive and physiological assessments to classify higher and lower-ability groups.
  • Leveraged cutting-edge eye tracking and motion capture, regularly implemented Python and R.

I have developed and implemented numerous technical solutions to support my research aims, and I am a regular contributer to open-source projects. View my work here.



Teaching & Mentoring Experience

I attended teacher practice training whilst employed at Liverpool John Moores University, where I subsequently obtained Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Guest Lecturer: Biomechanics Research (level 5)

Lancaster University

Lancaster, UK

Present - 2021

  • Delivery of a yearly guest lecture on wider Biomechanics research, drawing on own scholarly work to deliver research-led teaching and learning.

PhD Co-supervisor

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

Present - 2018

  • Co-supervision of a PhD student in the laboratory of Dr Richard Foster

Sessional Lecturer: Digital Technologies (MED.115, level 4)

Lancaster University

Lancaster, UK

2021

  • Organised and delivered online module sessions and formative assessments for 29 students

Hourly Paid Lecturer: Cognition, Motor Control, 2D & 3D Motion Capture (levels 4–6)

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

2021 - 2019

  • Organised and delivered lecturers and practical seminars incorporating demonstrations, problem-based learning and informal assessments/feedback to groups of 6–40 students.
  • Module content developed in collaboration with senior staff members, used relevant pedagogical literature, ensuring learning outcomes were met for curriculum.

Mentor/Supervisor

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

2020 - 2018

  • Trained several junior team members in laboratory techniques (e.g. eye tracking, motion capture, hardware synchronisation) to ensure competence.

Teaching Support Officer: (level 6)

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

2018 - 2017

  • Supervised final year project data collection in visuomotor control.
  • Trained placement students in groups of 3–6 how to evaluate methods of assessing visual perception.

Hourly Paid Lecturer: Advanced Research Methods (level 6)

University of Cumbria

Lancaster, UK

2017

  • Organised and delivered content in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including study design and statistical analysis, to approx. 30 students.
  • Marked final year formative written assessments and poster presentations.



Highlighted Publications

Honorary Academic Appointment(s)

Visiting Researcher

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

Present - 2020



Grants and Awards

With the support of Prof. Mark Hollands, I recently submitted my first funding application to the Dunhill Medical Trust as Principle Investigator. The proposed research aims to take a data-driven approach to evaluate older adult living spaces for factors of falls risk, and to effect home modifications using cutting-edge CAD tools to evaluate design incorporating human factors.

Dunhill Medical Trust: PI Suitable Living Environments

200,000 GBP (outcome pending)

Liverpool, UK

2021

  • Using body worn sensors to inform data-driven home modifications with the aim of reducing falls risk in older adults

Research Project of the Year

Lancaster University

Lancaster, UK

2017

Runner-up Poster Prize

Lancashire Teaching Hospital Trust Research and Innovation Showcase

Preston, UK

2013



Invited Lectures/Seminars

Looking in the right places to prevent stair falls in older adults

Liverpool John Moores University: Sandbox Seminar Series

Online

2021

Visuomotor control of locomotion

Pupil Labs: Research & Development Seminar

Online

2021

Modifying the appearance of stairs to reduce falls risk in older adults

Lancaster University: Health and Ageing Seminar Series

Lancaster

2019



Selected Science Writing

I enjoy producing content for non-peer reviewed science communications, such as research digests and magazines.

Eye tracking reveals altered gaze characteristics in children with developmental coordination disorder1

N/A

N/A

2021

Augmented visualization cues on primary flight display facilitating pilots’ monitoring performance2

N/A

N/A

2021

Optimising the appearance and design of stairs to reduce falls risk in older adults, The Sport and Exercise Scientist, Issue 67 Spring 20213

N/A

N/A

2021

Gaze and walking and how they impact on balance, The Care Home Environment4

N/A

N/A

2018



Professional Memberships

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

N/A

N/A

Present - 2021

International Society of Posture & Gait Research (post-doc)

N/A

N/A

Present - 2019

European College of Sport Science (student)

N/A

N/A

2016 - 2015

The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (student)

N/A

N/A

2014 - 2013



Committee Memberships

Post-Graduate Representative for the University of Cumbria Research Ethics Committee

N/A

N/A

2017 - 2016



Courses

3is Teacher Practice Programme, Liverpool John Moores University, 9–12 May

N/A

N/A

2019

Successful Grant Applications, Dunhill Medical Trust, The Welcome Trust, 3 June

N/A

N/A

2019

Routes to Impact, Dunhill Medical Trust, The Royal Society, 17 May

N/A

N/A

2018



Referees

Prof. MA. Hollands (Post-doc Supervisor): Professor of Movement Neuroscience, Liverpool John Moores University,

Dr. S. Dewhurst (PhD Supervisor): Deputy Head of Department, Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences, Bournemouth University,



Publications

I regularly review for journals such as, Gait & Posture; PLoS One; American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; Neuroscience Letters; and Applied Ergonomics.

Parr VP, Foster RJ, Wood G, Thomas NM, & Hollands MA. (2020) Children with developmental coordination disorder show altered visuomotor control during stair negotiation associated with heightened state-anxiety. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 14. 10.3389/fnhum.2020.5895024

Thomas NM, Donovan T, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM. (2018) Visually fixating or tracking another person decreases balance control in young and older females walking in a real-world scenario. Neuroscience Letters. 11.677. 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.04.0386.

Thomas NM, Dewhurst S, Bampouras TM, Donovan T, Macaluso, A, & Vannozzi G. (2017) Smooth pursuits decrease balance control during locomotion in young and older healthy females. Experimental Brain Research. 235.9. 10.1007/s00221-017-4996-27.

Thomas NM, (2016) Promoting and monitoring exercise among renal patients. *Cumbria Partnership Journal of Research, Practice and Learning. 5.19.

Thomas NM, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM. (2015) Homogeneity of fascicle architecture following repeated contractions in the human gastrocnemius medialis. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 25.6. 10.1016/j.jelekin.2015.08.007

In Review:

Bampouras T & Thomas NM. (December 2020) Validation of the SportLight LiDAR player tracking system in professional football. Sports Engineering

Skervin TK, Thomas NM, Schofield AJ, Hollands MA, Maganaris CN, & Foster RJ. (April 2021). Using a Stair Horizontal-Vertical Illusion to Increase Foot Clearance Over an Inconsistently Taller Stair-Riser. PLoS One.

In preparation:

Thomas NM, Skervin T, Foster RJ, O’Brien TD, Carpenter MG, Maganaris N, Baltzopoulos V, Lees C, & Hollands MA. (Expected submission July 2021) Carrying loads on stairs: Implications for visual sampling, fear of falling and stepping safety.

Foster RJ & Thomas NM. (Expected submission July 2021) Markerless motion capture to evaluate joint angles during functional movements in healthy and clinical populations.

Thomas NM & Foster RJ. (Expected submission September 2021) A review of staircase design from a human factors perspective.

Skervin TK, Thomas NM et al. (Expected submission October 2021) Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Foot Clearance on Stairs.



Conference Proceedings

Thomas NM & Bampouras TM. Validation of a LiDAR-based player tracking system during football-specific tasks. ISB Congress 2021

Thomas NM, Lees C, Maganaris N, Foster RJ, O’Brien TD, Skervin T, Baltzopoulos V, & Hollands MA. Lightbulb characteristics affect stepping biomechanics during stair descent in young and older adults. ISPGR world congress Edinburgh, UK, June 30–July 4, 2019

Thomas NM, Lees C, Maganaris N, Foster RJ, O’Brien TD, Skervin T, Baltzopoulos V, & Hollands MA. Low lighting drives more cautious stair descent in young adults. International Posture Symposium, Smolenice Castle, Slovakia, September 9–12, 2018

Thomas NM, Donovan T, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM. Visually fixating or tracking another person decreases balance control in young and older females walking in a real-world scenario. International Posture Symposium, Smolenice Castle, Slovakia, September 9–12, 2018

Thomas NM, Donovan T, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM. Eye movements affect postural control in young and older females, Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Vienna, Austria, July 6 – 9, 2016

Thomas NM, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM. Promoting and monitoring exercise among renal patients. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust Research and Innovation Showcase, Preston, UK, November 2015

Thomas NM, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM. Homogeneity of fascicle architecture following repeated contractions in the human gastrocnemius medialis. BASES Student Conference, Portsmouth, UK, April 8 – 9, 2014